Device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the inner surfaces of sewer and similar pipes.



PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906. O. W. ROSS.

DEVICE FOR GUTTING VEGETABLE AND OTHER GROWTHS FROM THE INNER I SURFACESOP SEWER AND SIMILAR PIPES.

R- 7 4.4.2 id-4- INVENTU Y/PM il h s 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 QNI U APPLICATIONFILED MAR/.3. 1905.

No. 813,739. PATENTED FEB. 2'7, 1906.

O. W. ROSS.

DEVICE FOR CUTTING VEGETABLE AND OTHER GROWTHS FROM THE INNER SURFACES0F SEWER AND SIMILAR PIPES.

PPLIO TION FILED MAR.3.1905. A A 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

W N INVENTEIR- IT ESSEE ham UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES W. ROSS, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS. v

DEVICE FOR CUTTING VEGETABLE AND OTHER GROWTHS FROM THE INNER SURFACESOF SEWER AND SIMILAR PIPES.

Patented Feb. 2'7, 1906.

Application filed March 3, 1905. Serial No. 248.256. I

- the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,in explaining its nature.

Sewer-pipes and pipes for similar use are very often decreased in boreor capacity and often entirely choked by the accumulation therein ofvegetable growths, which enter the pipes through the joints in them andwhich after such entrance continue to grow and to form a mass of rootsand branches which serve to collect passing sediment and to finallycreate a serious obstruction. Such pipes are also often coated withmatter deposited from the flowing water or sewage and also to an extentto make a stoppage of the flow. Heretofore when such pipes have becomeso choked it has often been necessary in order to free them from theaccumulations to take up or remove sections of the pipe, which hasnecessitated the digging of trenches for the removal of the earthcovering them in order that access to them may be had. This, of course,is an expensive undertaking as well as a slow and unsatisfactory one,even when the earth is in the best condition for removal; but when it isa part of a street pavement or when frozen in winter the labor ofremoval and they expense are increased. It is desirable, therefore, tofree the pipes of such vegetable growths and increments withoutdisturbing the pipes in any way and of course without removing the eartharound and about them, and I have invented a device for accomplishingthis purpose which in practical use I have found to answer all thenecessary requirements of such removal without disturbance to the pipes;and my invention consists in an instrument a portion of which isconformable to the bore of the pipe and is provided with cutting edgesreversely arranged and each shaped to have a draw out when operated,which cutting instrument is adapted to be moved in both directions inthe pipe and to operate to cut the vegetable growths and increments fromthe inner surface of the pipe in each direction of its movement andwhich instrument is also adapted to conform as to diameter to areasonable extent to the bore of the pipe and to obstructions thereinand is also adapted to conform to curves or bends in the pipe as it isbeing moved therein and which is also provided with limited powers ordegrees of extension in whichever direction it may be drawn.

I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a barof metal,preferablyrectangular or square in form and preferably having reverse oropposing edges from its center sharpened, and which bar of metal isshaped to produce at its center the largest diameter of the cutter andfrom which there extend in both directions spiral extensions which aregradually reduced in size to the points of attachment, with means forconnecting the ends with draft ropes, chains, or wires, These reversely-arranged spiral sections are disposed so as to bring the cuttingedges of the bar in opposed relation to each other or back to back, sothat when the instrument is moved in one direction the cutting edge ofthe bar which faces that direction will serve to cut the vegetablegrowths or deposits from the surface of the pipe, while upon the reversemovement of the bar the opposite cutting edge upon the opposite spiralis brought into action. It will be seen that as the cutting edge isspiral in form it acts to give or provide what is known as a drawcutthat is, the cutting edge bears an inclined relation to the plane ofthe cutand where the cutting edge is spirally arranged there is also anadditional effect obtained in that what, in effect, is a series of drawcuts are made each gradually increasing in diameter, although it will beunderstood that this cut is practically continuous and acts to removethe growth or deposit in what might be termed the form of a longshaving, as produced by a plane. The implement thus has on each side asuccession or multiplication of cutting-sections, each within the otherand yet connected with each other in a manner to produce a continuouscut,.but of different diameters, and these sections or some of them areadapted to be reduced slightly in diameter and their cutting anglesomewhat varied by differences in the degree of draft to which eitherend of the device may be subjected, the increasing draft 'of theircutting edge.

tending to reduce the diameter of the cutting-sections and to slightlychange the angle This action is desirable in order that the instrumentmay readily pass over without injury to itself or to the pipe anypermanent projection from the wall of the pipe or inequality therein,and as it is given a spring temper it will be understood that uponyielding to pass such an obstruction it again returns to its originalshape, and that is one which causes the cuttin -sections largest indiameter to automatically engage the surface of the pipe and to alwaysreturn to such engagement when temporarily removed from it. Thesepermanent projec tions are usually quite slight, so that it is notnecessary that the device should have more than a limited amount ofreduction, and this result is arrived at by attaching the ends of eachof the conical sections together by means of a slack flexibleconnection. This may be in the form of an inextensible medium, like achain, or 'it may be in the form of an additional yielding spring.Whichever means is used for this purpose, it is necessary that it shouldbe a conformable one, as it is essential that the device should have thepower of following the pipe whatever its changes in level may be orwhatever curves it may possess.

I prefer that the means for providing the device with draftsuch, forinstance, as wires, chains, or ropesshall be attached to the ends of thedevice by means of eyes or loops, to which the ends of the device aresecured, preferably flexibly, and to which, preferably, its limitingmeans such, for instance, as the chain-is also secured.

I will now describe the invention in conjunction with the drawingsforming a part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a view of thebar from which the cutting instrument is made. Fig. 2 is a view inelevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a view showing the apparatus within asewer-pipe. Fig. 4 is a view illustrating a modification, show ing acoil-spring instead of a chain for connecting the draft-wires.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a rectangular bar of metal ofthe proper quality. It preferably before being formed into its ultimateshape is provided with cutting edges a at, extending from the center toor toward both ends and which are on opposite edges of the bar, asrepresented. These cutting edges are so formed that after the bar isbent or curved into its spiral form the cutting edge a shall form thecutting edges a of the spiral section a and the cutting edge a thecutting edges a of the spiral section a The cutting edges of eachsection will accordingly be in a spiral form from the center, where thespiral is largest, to the ends, presenting, as it were, a series ofcutting edges differentially and angularly arranged in their positionswith respect to the longitudinal center of the device. Each end isattached to an eye, and of course there are two eyes B B. The manner ofattachment is immaterial, but is represented as secured by passing theend a, of each spiral through the small eyes I) b of the said eyes andby. enlarging the extreme end of each spiral by turning it back uponitself, so that it will not pass through a small eye.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a restricting-chain C, contained within the coilsof the device, and in Fig. 4 a restricting coil-spring. Whichever isused, its ends may be either connected with the ends of the spiralsections or with the eyes B B. I have shown the latter construction.

D D represent the draft wires, chains, or means by which the instrumentis adapted to be drawn back and forth in the sewer or other pipe. It isoperated in the pipe between two manholes, through one of which a rope,wire, or other drawing device is led to the other manhole, where it isattached to the end of the cutting apparatus, which is'then insertedinto the pipe and drawn from the last-named manhole through the pipetoward the firstnamed manhole and reciprocated in the pipe to anydesired extent and until the vegetable growths and accumulations havebeen cut from the surface of the pipe. It will be understood that asecond draft rope or wire is attached to its rear end and is drawn intothe pipe with it, and the said rope or wire is used for moving it in thepipe in a reverse direction from that in which the first-named rope orwire moves it, so that by alternately drawing on one or the other of thetwo ropes or wires the cutting instrument is caused to be reciprocatedthroughout the pipe and in any part of it. Its flexible structurepermits it to follow sinuosities in the pipe and to ride over permanentinequalities therein, while its extensibility permits it to conform to alimited degree to variations in the bore of the pipe. The draft ropes orwires being connected by relatively extensible connections within theinstrument, the instrument itself is freed or relieved from undue strainand is therefore always maintained in a shape and condition for use.

It will be observed that the device is adapted not only to conform tothe pipe as above specified and to be slightly extended under raft orstrain, but that it is also automatically retractable to its originalshape upon the release of strain.

While I prefer a structure of the form described, I should consider thatmy invention was involved if but one spiral section were usedthat 1s, ifit were so organized as to have but one spiral cutting-section. A bar ofany shape that will produce when curved to a s iral shape a cutting edgemay be used, and I would mention as a form of such bar one rolled orotherwise worked to a shape having a flat surface upon one side and acurved or rounded surface on the other extending from edge to edge. Thisprovides a bar having two cutting edges. I would further say that Iprefer to attach the draft ropes or wires to the ends of the cuttingimplement by means which permit them to be readily arranged in theirposition with respect to the longitudinal center of said device, wherebythe growth or deposit in said pipe is sliced as the device is moved orcaused to operate therein.

2. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes, the same having a cutter presentinga series of cutting edges differentially and angularly arranged in theirposition with respect to the longitudinal center of said device, wherebythe growth or deposit in said pipe is sliced as the device is moved orcaused to operate therein.

3. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes, the same having a yieldin cutterpresenting a series of cutting edges differentially arranged withrespect to the longitudinal center of said device, whereby the growth ordeposit in the pipe is sliced as the device is moved or caused tooperate therein, whereby also said cutter is adapted to yield or beconformable to any obstruction in said p A device for cutting vegetableand other growths from the inner surfaces of sewer and similar pipes,the same having an extensible cutter presenting a series of cuttingedges differentially arranged in their position with respect to thelongitudinal center of said device, whereby the growth or deposit in thepipe is sliced as the device is moved or caused to operate therein, andwhereby also said device is adapted to yield or be conformable to anyobstruction in said pipe.

5. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes, the same having a cutter presentinga series of cutting edges differentially arranged in their positionswith respect to the longitudinal center of said device, which cutteralso is extensible, and means for limiting the extension thereof.

6. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes, the same having a series of cuttingedges arranged in a spiral coil, tapering toward the drawing end of saiddevice, whereby as said device is moved or caused to operate in the pipeit will slice the growth or deposit therein with a spiral drawing out.

7. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes comprising a metal bar bent in theform of a tapering spiral, which spiral is provided with a cutting edge,whereby the spiral is adapted to operate with a drawing out of varyingdiameter as it is drawn endwise through the pipe, whereby the growth ordeposit inside the pipe is sliced away.

8. A device for cutting vegetable or other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes comprising a metal bar bent in theform of a spiral tapering from the middle toward either end thereof,thereby forming two sections, which spiral sections are pro vided withcutting edges reversely disposed, whereby the spiral is adapted tooperate with a drawing out of varying diameter as it is drawn endwise ineither direction through the pipe.

9. A device for cutting vegetable and other growths from the innersurfaces of sewer and similar pipes comprising a metal bar bent in theform of a spiral tapering from the middle toward either end thereof,thereby formin two sections, which sections are provide with cuttingedges reversely disposed, whereby the spiral is adapted to operate witha drawing cut in opposite directions as it is drawn endwise in eitherdirection through the pipe, which device also is extensible and thecutting edges yielding, and means inside the spiral for limiting theextension of the device while under strain or draft.

CHARLES W. ROSS.

Witnesses:

F. F. RAYMOND, 2d, M. E. FLAHERTY.

